St. Lawrence College (SLC) is thrilled to announce its Honorary Diploma recipients for 2026. They will be conferred at convocation ceremonies in Cornwall on Friday, June 12 and in Kingston on Friday, June 19. Brockville’s convocation ceremony will be held on Friday, June 5.
Honorary Diplomas are conferred by the College to individuals or organizations that demonstrate incredible community engagement, leadership, innovation, and integrity. Recipients are chosen because they are an inspiration to SLC students, alumni, and communities.
The first Honorary Diploma awarded will be presented to Gail Kaneb, President, Breakthrough Strategies and co-founder of the Tom & Gail Kaneb Family Foundation. Gail’s philanthropic spirit has made a lasting impact on education, health sciences, and the arts in the Cornwall region. Together with her husband Tom, Gail has championed causes close to her heart through the Tom and Gail Kaneb Family Foundation, most recently contributing toward SLC’s Cornwall Paramedic Lab and the Brockville Specialty Nursing Lab, a legacy recognized through the naming of the Tom and Gail Kaneb Family Foundation Paramedic Simulation Centre. Her generosity also supports arts and culture initiatives in Cornwall and the surrounding areas. Gail and Tom have been at the forefront of championing SLC’s program offerings and the vital role the college plays in supporting the Eastern Ontario workforce and region, reflecting a deep personal belief in the power of accessible education and strong community institutions to transform lives. Gail will receive her Honorary Diploma on Friday, June 12 at the 10 a.m. ceremony.
The second Honorary Diploma will be awarded to Abram Benedict, a former Chair of St. Lawrence College’s Board of Governors and the Ontario Regional Chief (ORC) for the Chiefs of Ontario, elected in June 2024 to advocate for all 133 First Nations across Ontario. He is the first Haudenosaunee person to hold the position in the 50-year history of the Chiefs of Ontario. With 19 years of community leadership experience, Regional Chief Benedict previously served as District Chief and later Grand Chief for the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne. He is a recognized advocate for Indigenous rights, with priorities that include mining, additions-to-reserve, and relationship building with all levels of government. Regional Chief Benedict has also served as a board member of Cornwall Community Hospital and as the Aboriginal Representative to the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies. Chief Benedict will receive his Honorary Diploma on Friday, June 12 at the 2 p.m. ceremony.
The final Honorary Diploma will be conferred on Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe, educational behaviourist and author. Robyne is a proud SLC alumna, having completed her studies in Behavioural Science Technology (1997) and Addictions Treatment and Prevention (2000), and her connection to SLC runs deep. She established the Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe and Family Award, an endowed bursary supporting students in Applied Behavioural Analysis programs. Dr. Robyne is a globally recognized motivational speaker, consultant, and resiliency expert who works with some of the largest organizations and companies worldwide. Often described as the “friendly neighbourhood scientist,” she blends research with real-life wisdom to make complex ideas simple, relatable, and actionable. She is the author of the award-winning Calm Within the Storm: A Pathway to Everyday Resiliency and Stress Wisely: How to Be Well in an Unwell World, along with her newest release I Hope So: How to Choose Hope, Even When It Is Hard, a The Globe and Mail Bestseller List title. Through her work, Dr. Robyne teaches that hope is a strategy, resiliency is a skill, and better days are always within reach.
Robyne will be awarded her Honorary Diploma on Friday, June 19 at the 10 a.m. ceremony.
“Every year, awarding Honorary Diplomas at Convocation gives us a chance to shine a light on remarkable individuals who have contributed so much to the communities around us,” said Glenn Vollebregt, SLC President and CEO. “Each recipient’s story is uniquely motivating, and we know they will inspire our graduating classes as they embark on the next stage of their journey.”
Visit SLC’s website for complete Convocation 2026 ceremony information, schedule, and link to livestream, which is active just prior to each ceremony beginning. Click here to read full Q and A with each recipient.
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